Conveyable cover former and fastening system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a continuation of copending U.S. Ser.No. 10/263,209, filed Oct. 1, 2002; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 09/607,578, filed Jun. 29, 2000, now allowed; which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/090,889, filed Jun. 4, 1998, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,101,788; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/826,841,filed Apr. 7, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,256; which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 08/465,294, filed Jun. 5, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.5,661,952; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/088,976, filedJul. 8, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,707, the contents of all of whichare hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method forusing a conveyable cover former for placing a cover about an article,conveying the covered article to a fastening device, and automaticallyapplying a fastener about the covered article, and more particularly,but not by way of limitation, to such apparatus and methods wherein thearticle is a potted plant or flower pot.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method forforming a cover about an article, conveying the article and cover to afastening device and automatically fastening the cover to the article,and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article.The article may be a potted plant or flower pot and the cover may be adecorative cover. The invention satisfies the need for rapidly coveringand fastening the cover about an article with a minimal amount of manualeffort in a location having a limited amount of available space.

[0004] The apparatus comprises a platform having a support surfaceformed thereon. An opening sized to accommodate an article for passagetherethrough extends through the support surface. The support surface isadapted to support at least portions of a sheet of material in aposition generally over a conveyable cover forming assembly or molddisposed near the opening in the support surface. The conveyable coverforming assembly or mold has contacting portions for contacting thesheet of material. The conveyable cover forming assembly or mold openingis sized and configured to receive the article.

[0005] The apparatus further comprises a fastening or tying device forautomatically applying a fastener about a portion of the outer surfaceof the covered article for fastening the cover about the article afterthe cover is formed about the article.

[0006] The apparatus further comprises conveying assembly or rail forconveying the covered article and conveyable cover forming assembly ormold from the cover forming position to a fastener applicationpositioning at the fastening or tying device.

[0007] The apparatus may also comprise a labeling device forautomatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of thecover of the covered article. The apparatus may further comprise anassembly for automatically placing a sheet of material on the supportsurface.

[0008] The present invention also comprises a method for processing anarticle. The process initially comprises providing a platform having asupport surface formed thereon and an opening extending through thesupport surface. The opening is as described above. The conveyable coverforming assembly or mold has contacting portions and is sized to receivean article, which may be a flower pot. The next step is placing a sheetof material in a cover forming position over the opening and on thesupport surface wherein the sheet of material, in the cover formingposition, is positioned over the conveyable cover forming assembly ormold.

[0009] The next step is providing the article and positioning thearticle over the sheet of material so the article is disposed generallyabove and near the portion of the sheet of material which is above theconveyable cover forming assembly or mold. Then, the article is moved ina direction which causes a lower end of the article to engage a portionof the sheet of material. The article and portions of the sheet ofmaterial pass into the conveyable cover forming assembly or mold causingthe sheet of material to contact or nearly contact both an outerperipheral surface of the article and the contacting portions of theconveyable cover forming assembly. The sheet is pressed about the outerperipheral surface of the article to form a cover about the article.

[0010] The conveyable cover forming assembly or mold is automaticallyconveyed on a conveying assembly, such as a rail, so that the coveredarticle is moved into a fastener applicating position at the fasteningdevice. After the covered article is conveyed to the fastenerapplicating position, a fastener is automatically applied about aportion of the outer surface of the cover of the article for fasteningthe cover about the article. Then, the covered article is removed fromthe conveyable cover forming assembly. The covered article may beremoved before or after the conveyable cover forming assembly isreturned via the conveying assembly to near the platform. Also, themethod may comprise the additional step of engaging an automaticlabeling assembly and automatically applying a label to a portion of theouter surface of the cover of the article prior to the removal of thecovered article.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first sheet of material with one endturned up constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second sheet of material with one endturned up constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first and the secondsheets of material disposed adjacent each other.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing bonding areas on a surface ofa first sheet of material or a second sheet of material which causebonding of the second sheet of material and the first sheet of material.

[0015]FIG. 5 is an exaggerated cross-sectional view of a first sheet ofmaterial and a modified second sheet of material.

[0016]FIG. 6 is another exaggerated cross-sectional view of a modifiedfirst sheet of material connected to a second sheet of material.

[0017]FIG. 7 is an exaggerated cross-sectional view of still anothermodified first sheet of material connected to a modified second sheet ofmaterial.

[0018]FIG. 8 is another exaggerated cross-sectional view of yet anothermodified first sheet of material connected to a modified second sheet ofmaterial.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a roll of a plurality of sheetsof material constructed in accordance with the present invention, theroll partially unrolled to reveal a single sheet still attached thereto.

[0020]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a roll of plurality of sheets ofmaterial disposed in a dispenser.

[0021]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a roll of material disposedin a dispenser wherein the roll of material comprises a first and asecond sheet of material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0022]FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a roll of material fordispensing a first and a second sheet of material constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 13 is an exaggerated side elevational view of a pad of firstand second sheets of material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0024]FIG. 14 is a plan view of a sheet of material with a sheetextension connected thereto constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0025]FIG. 15 is a plan view of another sheet of material with a sheetextension connected thereto constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0026]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pre-formed decorative potcover.

[0027]FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, ofan apparatus for processing an article of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the apparatus for processing anarticle of FIG. 17.

[0029]FIG. 19A is a perspective view of a cover forming mold used in theapparatus of FIG. 17.

[0030]FIG. 19B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a coverforming mold used in the apparatus of FIG. 17.

[0031]FIG. 20 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, ofan apparatus for processing an article of the present invention having amaterial dispenser.

[0032]FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the apparatus for processing anarticle of the present invention shown in FIG. 20.

[0033] FIGS. 22A-22D are side elevational views, partially in crosssection, of the apparatus for processing an article of FIG. 17 while inoperation.

[0034]FIG. 23 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, ofa potted plant having a cover fastened thereto.

[0035]FIG. 24 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, ofa potted plant having a cover fastened thereto, the cover having a sheetextension.

DESCRIPTION

[0036] In one version, the present invention comprises an apparatus forprocessing an article such as a potted plant or flower pot. Theapparatus comprises a platform supported by a framework. The platformhas a support surface formed thereon and an opening extending throughthe support surface. The opening is sized to accommodate an article tobe passed therethrough. The article has an upper end, a lower end, andan outer peripheral surface.

[0037] The apparatus further comprises a conveyable cover formingassembly having contacting portions and a receiving end and sized toreceive the article. The cover forming assembly is further adapted suchthat a sheet of material is formed into a cover about the outerperipheral surface of the article when the article is moved in adirection which causes the lower end of the article to engage a portionof the sheet of material. As the sheet of material is engaged, thearticle and portions of the sheet of material pass into the receivingend of the conveyable cover forming assembly causing the sheet ofmaterial to contact or nearly contact both the outer peripheral surfaceof the article and the contacting portions of the conveyable coverforming assembly. As the article is moved, the sheet of material ispressed about the outer peripheral surface of the article to form thecover about the article. The cover has an inner surface facing the outerperipheral surface of the article and an exposed outer surface.

[0038] The apparatus further comprises a conveying assembly forconveying the conveyable cover forming assembly from adjacent theplatform to a fastener applicating position. The apparatus furthercomprises a fastener applicating device, such as a tying device, forautomatically applying a fastener about a portion of the outer surfaceof the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the articlewhen the conveyable cover forming assembly is conveyed via the conveyingassembly to the fastener applicating position.

[0039] Finally, the apparatus comprises a drive assembly for conveyingthe conveyable cover forming assembly via the conveying assembly to thefastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating deviceand for returning the conveyable cover forming assembly via theconveying assembly to a cover forming position adjacent the platform.Optionally, the apparatus may further comprise a labeling device forautomatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of thecover of the covered article.

[0040] The present invention, as will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art, may also be modified such that the tying fasteningdevice is conveyable to a stationary cover forming apparatus.

[0041] The present invention further comprises a method using theapparatus described above for processing an article such as a pottedplant or flower pot. The method comprises the first step of providing aplatform having a support surface formed thereon and an openingextending through the support surface in which the opening is sized toaccommodate an article passed therethrough. In the next step is provideda conveyable cover forming assembly, such as described above, which isconveyable via a conveying assembly such as a rail.

[0042] Next, a sheet of material is placed in a cover forming positionover the opening and on the support surface wherein the sheet ofmaterial, in the cover forming position, is positioned over thereceiving end of the conveyable cover forming assembly. An article, forexample a potted plant or flower pot, is provided. The article ispositioned over the sheet of material in a position wherein the lowerend of the article is disposed generally above and near the portion ofthe sheet of material which is above the receiving end of the conveyablecover forming assembly.

[0043] The sheet of material is formed into a cover about the outerperipheral surface of the article by moving the article in a directionwhich causes the lower end of the article to engage a portion of thesheet of material whereby the article and portions of the sheet ofmaterial pass into the receiving end of the conveyable cover formingassembly causing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contact boththe outer peripheral surface of the article and the contacting portionsof the conveyable cover forming assembly as the article is moved. Thesheet is pressed about the outer peripheral surface of the article toform the cover about the article.

[0044] A fastener applicating device, such as a tying device, isprovided. The conveyable cover forming assembly is conveyed via theconveying assembly from adjacent the platform to a fastening positionadjacent the fastener applicating device. A fastener is automaticallyapplied about a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the articlefor fastening the cover about the article. The article with the coverfastened thereabout is then removed.

The Embodiments of FIGS. 1-3

[0045] Shown in FIG. 1 and designated therein by the general referencenumeral 10 is a sheet of material (also referred to herein as firstsheet of material). The sheet of material 10 has a first end 12, asecond end 14, a first 16, a second 18, an upper surface 20 and asurface 22.

[0046] A closure bonding material 24 may be disposed on the uppersurface 20 of the sheet material 10. Alternatively, the sheet material10 may be free of a closure bonding material. As shown in FIG. 1, theclosure bonding material 24, if present, may be disposed adjacent thefirst side 16 of the sheet of material 10 and extends between the firstand the second ends 12 and 14 of the sheet of material 10 or it may bedisposed on any portion of the sheet of material 10. As shown in FIG. 1,the closure bonding material 24 is disposed on the upper surface 20 in astrip of closure bonding material 24, although the closure bondingmaterial 24 also could be applied to the upper surface 20 of the sheetmaterial 10 in the form of spaced apart spots, or the surface 20 of thesheet material 10 in any other geometric form and in any patternincluding covering the entire upper surface 20 of the sheet of material10. In this last-mentioned instance, the closure bonding material andthe connecting bonding material would be contained within the bondingmaterial covering the sheet of material 10. The term “spot” or “spots”includes any geometric shape of spot including, but not limited to, whatis commonly referred to as strips.

[0047] The sheet material 10 has a thickness in a range from about 0.1mil to about 30 mils. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 has athickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 5 mils.

[0048] The sheet of material 10 may be any shape and a square orrectangular shape si shown in FIG. 1 only by way of example. The sheetof material 10 for example only may be square, rectangular, circular orany other geometric shape such a heart shaped, for example only.

[0049] The sheet of material 10 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterials. Any thickness of the sheet of material 10 may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention as long as the sheet of material10 is wrappable about an object, such as a plant or flower pot, asdescribed herein. The layers of material comprising the sheet ofmaterial 10 may be connected together or laminated or may be separatelayers.

[0050] Shown in FIG. 2 is a second sheet of material 26 (also referredto herein as “second sheet 26” or “sheet 26”). The second sheet ofmaterial 26 has a first end 28, a second end 30, a first side 32, asecond side 34, an upper surface 36 and a lower surface 38. The secondsheet of material 26, if used may be constructed of paper. The term“paper” as used herein means treated or untreated paper, corrugatedpaper or cardboard or any other form of paper material.

[0051] The first sheet of material 10 has a length 40 extending betweenthe first, and the second sides 16 and 18 of the sheet of material 10.The first sheet of material 10 also has a width 42 extending between thefirst and the second ends 12 and 14 of the first sheet of material 10.

[0052] The second sheet of material 26 has a length 44 extending betweenthe first and the second sides 32 and 34 of the second sheet of material26. The second sheet of material 26 has a width 46 extending between thefirst and the second ends 28 and 30 of the second sheet of material 26.In a preferred embodiment, the length 44 of the second sheet of material26 is less than the length 40 of the first sheet of material 10 as shownin FIG. 3 so that, when the first sheet of material 10 is disposedadjacent the second sheet of material 26, a portion of the first sheetof material 10 adjacent the first side 16 thereof extends a distancebeyond the first side 32 of the second sheet of material 26, in a mannerand for reason which will be described in greater detail below.

[0053] The first sheet of material has a thickness in a range from about0.5 mil to about 30 mils and preferably the thickness of the first sheetof material is in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. The firstsheet of material 10 is constructed of a material which is flexible.

[0054] The second sheet of material 26 has a thickness in a range fromabout 0.1 mil to about 30 mils and preferably in a range from about 0.1mil to about 10 mils. The second sheet of material 26 is flexible, butrelatively rigid compared to the first sheet of material 10.

[0055] The second sheet of material 26 may be any shape and a square orrectangular shape is shown in FIG. 2 only by way of example. The secondsheet of material 26, for example only, may be square, rectangular,circular or any other geometric shape.

[0056] The second sheet of material 26 may be constructed of a singlelayer of material or a plurality of layers of the same or differenttypes of materials. Any thickness of the second sheet of material 26 maybe utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as thesecond sheet of material 26 is wrappable about an object such as aflower pot, as described herein, and as long as the second sheet ofmaterial 26 provides the rigidity described herein or the absorbencydescribed herein or both. The layers of material comprising the secondsheet of material 26 may be connected together or laminated or may beseparate layers.

[0057] In operation, when the second sheet of material 26 is desired inaddition to the first sheet of material 10, the second sheet of material26 is placed adjacent the first sheet of material 10 as shown in FIG. 3.In this position, the lower surface 38 of the second sheet of material26 is disposed adjacent the upper surface 20 of the first sheet ofmaterial 10. The width 42 of the first sheet of material 10 is aboutequal to the width 46 of the second sheet of material 26 so that, whenthe first and the second sheets of material 10 and 26 are disposedadjacent each other, the first end 28 of the second sheet of material 26is generally aligned with the first end 12 of the first sheet ofmaterial 10; the second end 30 of the second sheet of material 26 isgenerally aligned with the second end 14 of the first sheet of material10; the second side 18 of the first sheet of material 10 is generallyaligned with the second side 34 of the second sheet of material 26; andthe first side 16 of the first sheet of material 10 extends a distancebeyond the first side 32 of the second sheet of material 26 so that theclosure bonding material 24 on the upper surface 20 of the first sheetof material 10 is exposed and not covered by the second sheet ofmaterial 26.

[0058] It should be noted that the first and the second sheets ofmaterial 10 and 26 each could have virtually identical lengths 40 and44. In this case, the second sheet of material 26 is disposed on thefirst sheet of material 20 in such a manner that the second side 34 ofthe second sheet of material 26 extends a distance beyond the secondside 18 of the first sheet of material 10 whereby the first side 16 ofthe first sheet of material 10 is spaced a distance from the first side32 of the second sheet of material 26, thereby leaving the closurebonding material 24 on the first sheet of material 10 exposed and notcovered by the second sheet of material 26. Multiple sheets of the firstand second sheets of material 10 and 26 may be used. Moreover, whenmultiple sheets of the first and second sheets of material 10 and 26 areused in combination, the sheets of material 10 and 26 need not beuniform in size or shape. Finally, it will be appreciated that the firstand second sheets of material 10 and 26 shown in all embodiments hereinare substantially flat.

[0059] As noted earlier, a closure bonding material 24 may be disposedon the upper surface 20 of the first sheet of material 10. The closurebonding material 24 may be applied as a strip or as spots or othershapes. One method for disposing a closure bonding material, in thiscase an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled“Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued to Weder et al., on May12, 1992 and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0060] The first sheet of material 10 can be utilized alone or incombination with the second sheet of material 26 to wrap a potted plantor flower pot. The term “flower pot” refers to any type of containerused for holding a floral grouping or a potted plant. Examples of flowerpots used in accordance with the present invention are clay pots,plastic pots, and the like. “Floral grouping” as used herein means cutfresh flowers, artificial flowers, a single flower other fresh and/orartificial plants or other floral materials and may include othersecondary plants and/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materialswhich add to the aesthetics of the overall floral arrangement. Thefloral grouping comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion.However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist ofonly a single bloom or only foliage (not shown). The term “floralgrouping” may be used interchangeably herein with the term “floralarrangement”.

[0061] The first sheet of material 10 or the second sheet of material 26may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality oflayers of the same or different types of materials. Any thickness of thefirst and second sheets of material 10 and 26 may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention as long as the first and secondsheets of material 10 and 26 may be wrapped or formed about at least aportion of a flower pot, as described herein. Additionally, aninsulating material, such as bubble film, preferably one of two or morelayers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection forthe item wrapped therein.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the first sheet of material 10 isconstructed from two polypropylene films (a 20″×15″ sheet of Mobil 270ABW white opaque film laminated to a 20″×15″ sheet of Mobil 220 AB clearfilm) having a thickness in a range of from less than about 1.0 mil toabout 2.5 mils. The layers of polypropylene film comprising the firstsheet of material 10 may be connected together or laminated or may beseparate layers.

[0063] The first sheet of material 10 is constructed from any suitablewrapping material that is capable of being wrapped about a flower pot orfloral grouping, as the case may be. Preferably, the first sheet ofmaterial 10 comprises paper (untreated or treated in any manner), foil,polymeric film, fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural),burlap, or combinations thereof.

[0064] The term “polymeric film” means a synthetic polymer such as apolypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. Apolymeric film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing(substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil.

[0065] The first and second sheets of material 10 and 26 may vary incolor. Further, the first and second sheets of material 10 and/or 26 mayconsist of designs or decorative patterns which are printed, etched,and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. Anexample of an ink which may be applied to the surface of the first andsecond sheets of material 10 and/or 26 is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,147,706 entitled “Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or synthetic organicpolymer” issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1992 and which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. In addition, the first and secondsheets of material 10 and/or 26 may have various colorings, coatings,flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surfaceornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may becharacterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent,transparent, iridescent or the like, qualities. Each of the above-namedcharacteristics may occur alone or in combination and may be applied tothe upper and/or lower surface of the first and second sheets ofmaterial 10 and 26. Moreover, each surface of the first and secondsheets of material 10 and 26 may vary in the combination of suchcharacteristics. The first and second sheets of material 10 and/or 26may be opaque, translucent or partially clear or tinted transparent.

Embodiments of FIGS. 4-8

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 4, a bonding material 48 may be applied toeither an upper surface 20 a of a first sheet of material 10 a or to alower surface 38 a of a second sheet of material 26 a in a plurality ofpatches 48 for the purpose of bonding the upper surface 20 a of thefirst sheet of material 10 a to the lower surface 38 a of the secondsheet of material 26 a.

[0067] Shown in FIG. 5 is a first sheet of material 10 b connected to amodified second sheet of material 26 b. The first sheet of material 10 bis constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10. The second sheetof material 26 b is constructed like the second sheet of material 26described in detail before and shown in FIG. 2, except the second sheetof material 26 b includes a bonding material 60 disposed on a lowersurface 38 b of the second sheet of material 26 b. The bonding material60 is in the form of a plurality of spaced apart spots of bondingmaterial 60, similar to that shown in FIG. 4. The lower surface 38 b ofthe second sheet of material 26 b is bondingly connected to an uppersurface 20 b of the first sheet of material 10 b by way of the bondingmaterial 60. Since the bonding material 60 is in the form of a pluralityof spaced apart spots, a plurality of spaced apart spaces 62 (only oneof the spaces 62 being designated by reference numeral in FIG. 5) areformed between the lower surface 38 b of the second sheet of material 26b and the upper surface 20 b of the first sheet of material 10 b. Thespaces 62 provide air gaps which form an insulation when the first andthe second sheets of material 10 b and 26 b are wrapped about a flowerpot in a manner and for reasons like that described herein.

[0068] Shown in FIG. 6 is a first sheet of material 10 c connected to asecond sheet of material 26 c. The first sheet of material 10 c isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1,except the first sheet of material 10 c includes a bonding material 64disposed on an upper surface 20 c of the first sheet of material 10 c.The bonding material 64 is in the form of a plurality of spaced apartspots of bonding material 64, similar to that shown in FIG. 5. A lowersurface 38 c of the second sheet of material 26 c is bondingly connectedto the upper surface 20 c of the first sheet of material 10 c by way ofthe bonding material 64. Since the bonding material 64 is in the form ofa plurality of spaced apart spots, a plurality of spaces 66 (only one ofthe spaces 66 being designated by a reference numeral in FIG. 6) areformed between the lower surface 38 c of the second sheet of material 26c and the upper surface 20 c of the first sheet of material 10 c. Thespaces 66 provide air gaps which form an insulation when the first andthe second sheets of material 10 c and 26 c are wrapped about a flowerpot in a manner and for reasons like that described herein in connectionwith FIG. 5.

[0069] Shown in FIG. 7 is a first sheet of material 10 d connected to asecond sheet of material 26 d. The first sheet of material 10 d isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material shown in FIG. 1, exceptthe first sheet of material 10 d includes a bonding material 68 on anupper surface 20 d thereof. The second sheet of material 26 d isconstructed exactly like the second sheet of material 26 shown in FIG.2, except the second sheet of material 26 d includes a plurality ofspaced apart raised portions 70. The raised portions 70 may be formed byembossing the second sheet of material 26 d or forming corrugations inthe second sheet of material 26 d or in any other manner desired in anyparticular application.

[0070] The upper surface 20 d of the first sheet of material 10 d isdisposed generally adjacent a lower surface 38 d of the second sheet ofmaterial 20 d or, more particularly, adjacent the raised portions 70 onthe second sheet of material 26 d. In this position, the raised portions70 are bonded to the upper surface 20 d of the first sheet of material10 d by way of the bonding material 68 to connect the first sheet ofmaterial 10 d to the second sheet of material 20 d.

[0071] The spaced apart raised portions 70 on the second sheet ofmaterial 26 d form a plurality of spaces 72 between the first sheet ofmaterial 10 d and the second sheet of material 26 d in a connectedposition of the first and the second sheets of material 10 d and 26 dfor providing insulation when the first and second sheets of material 10d and 26 d are connected together and wrapped about a flower pot in amanner like that described herein.

[0072] Shown in FIG. 8 is a first sheet of material 10 e connected to asecond sheet of material 26 e. The first sheet of material 10 e isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1,except the first sheet of material 10 e includes a plurality of spacedapart raised portions 74. The raised portions 74 may be formed in thefirst sheet of material 10 e by embossing the first sheet of material 10e or forming corrugations in the first sheet of material 10 e or in anyother suitable manner. The second sheet of material 26 e is constructedexactly like the second sheet of material 26 shown in FIG. 2, except thesecond sheet of material 26 e includes a bonding material 76 disposed ona lower surface 38 e thereof.

[0073] In operation, an upper surface 20 e of the first sheet ofmaterial 10 e is disposed generally adjacent the lower surface 38 e ofthe second sheet of material 26 e or, more particularly, the raisedportions 74 on the first sheet of material 10 e are disposed adjacentthe lower surface 38 e of the second sheet of material 26 e. In thisposition, the first sheet of material 10 e is bondingly connected to thesecond sheet of material 26 e by way of the bonding material 76 on thesecond sheet of material 26 e or, more particularly, the bondingmaterial 76 on the second sheet of material 26 e bondingly engages andbondingly connects to the raised portions 74 on the first sheet ofmaterial 10 e to connect the first sheet of material 10 e to the secondsheet of material 26 e. In this connected position of the first sheet ofmaterial 10 e and the second sheet of material 26 e, the raised portions74 cooperate to form a plurality of spaces 78 between the first sheet ofmaterial 10 e and the second sheet of material 26 e. The spaces 78cooperate to provide an insulation when the first and the second sheetsof material 10 e and 26 e are wrapped about a flower pot in a manner andfor reasons like that described herein.

Embodiments of FIGS. 9-10

[0074] Referring now to FIG. 9, a plurality of individual sheets ofmaterial 10 f are connected linearly together to form a roll 80.Preferably, the plurality of sheets of material 10 f in the roll 80 areconnected by perforations 82, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Such a roll 80permits one sheet of material 10 f to be withdrawn from the roll 80,then severed or disconnected from the roll 80. Alternatively, as shownin FIG. 10, the roll 80 may simply be formed as a continuous roll 80 ofwrapping material without perforations, wherein a plurality of sheets ofmaterial 10 f may be removed from the roll 80 by unrolling a portion ofthe roll 80, and using a separate cutting element (not shown) to severthe unrolled portion of the roll 80 of material to form the sheet ofmaterial 10 f. The roll 80 may also be contained within a dispenser 84,as illustrated in FIG. 10. When the roll 80 is disposed in the dispenser84, a portion of the roll of material is again unrolled, and a serratedcutting edge 86 contained within the dispenser 84, or a separate cuttingelement (not shown), severs the unrolled portion to form the sheet ofmaterial 10 f. Any number of sheets of material 10 f may form the roll80 as long as it is possible to withdraw at least one sheet of material10 f from the roll 80 as described herein.

Embodiments of FIGS. 11-12

[0075] The first and the second sheets of material described herein canbe provided in the form of a roll of material wherein, when material isunrolled from the roll of material, the unrolled material can besevered, either by perforations or by cutting to provide the first andthe second sheets of material. It also should be noted that additionalsheets of material may be combined with the first and the second sheetsof material if so desired in a particular application.

[0076] Shown in FIG. 11 is a roll of material 90 comprising a firstmaterial 92 and a second material 94 with the second material 94 beingdisposed adjacent the first material 92. The first material 92 isconstructed of any of the materials described before with respect to thefirst sheet of material 10. The second material 94 is constructed of anyof the materials described before with respect to the second sheet ofmaterial 26.

[0077] The roll of material 90 is disposed in a dispenser 96 having anopening 98 through which the first and second materials 92 and 94 may bewithdrawn from the roll of material 90. A cutting edge 100 is disposedon the dispenser 96 near the opening 98. The cutting edge 100 may be asawtooth type of edge, as shown in FIG. 11, or the cutting edge 100 maybe any other type of edge or device suitable for cutting portions of thefirst and second materials 92 and 94 from the roll of material 90 andthe cutting edge 100 may be connected to the dispenser 96 or may be aseparate component, if desired in particular application.

[0078] The roll of material 90 has a leading edge 102. In operation, theleading edge 102 is gripped or portions of the first and/or the secondmaterials 92 and/or 94 are gripped and the first and the secondmaterials 92 and 94 are unrolled and withdrawn from the roll of material90 in a direction 104. The first and the second materials 92 and 94 arewithdrawn or unrolled from the roll of material 90 until desired lengthsof the first and the second materials 92 and 94 have been withdrawn fromthe roll of material 90. In this position, portions of the first and thesecond materials 92 and 94 are disposed adjacent the cutting edge 100.The first and the second materials 92 and 94 then are maneuvered to passthe first and the second materials 92 and 94 over the cutting edge 100,thereby severing the portions of the first and second material 92 and 94extending a distance from the leading edge 102 thereof from the roll ofmaterial 90. The portions of the first and the second materials 92 and94 withdrawn from the roll of material 90 and severed from the roll ofmaterial 90 comprise the first and the second sheets of material 10 and26, as described herein.

[0079] The first and the second materials 92 and 94 in the roll ofmaterial 90 may be connected or unconnected. Further, the roll ofmaterial 90 may comprise two rolls of material (not shown) with one ofthe rolls of material comprising the first material 92 and the otherroll of material comprising the second material 94. In thislast-mentioned embodiment, the first material 92 is withdrawn from thefirst roll of material and the second material 94 is withdrawn from thesecond roll of material about simultaneously so that the first and thesecond materials 92 and 94 are provided in a manner as generally shownin FIG. 11 for severing from the first and second rolls of material toprovide the first and the second sheets of material as described herein.The term “roll of material” as used herein is intended to encompass twoor more rolls in the manner generally described.

[0080] Shown in FIG. 12 is a modified roll of material 90 a comprising afirst material 92 a and a second material 94 a with a leading edge 102a. The roll of material 90 a is constructed exactly like the roll ofmaterial 90 described before, except the roll of material 90 a is notdisposed in a dispenser constructed like the dispenser 96 shown in FIG.11. Rather, the roll of material 90 a is supported on a generallymounted shaft 106. The first and the second materials 92 a and 94 a arewithdrawn from the roll of material 90 a in a manner like that describedbefore in connection with FIG. 11 until predetermined lengths of thefirst and the second materials 92 a and 94 a have been withdrawn fromthe roll of material 90 a. In this position, portions of the first andthe second materials 92 a and 94 a are disposed under a knife edge 108.The knife edge 108 is connected to an actuator 110 adapted to move theknife edge 108 in a direction 112 and in a direction 114. When thepredetermined lengths of the first and the second materials 92 a and 94a have been withdrawn from the roll of material 90 a, the actuator 110actuates to move the knife edge 108 in the direction 112 to a positionwherein the knife edge 108 severingly engages the materials 92 a and 94a to severingly cut portions of the first and the second materials 92 aand 94 a from the roll of material 90 a to provide the first and thesecond sheets of material 10 and 26, as described herein. The actuator110 may comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or a motor and geararrangement or any other form of arrangement suitable for moving theknife edge 108 in the directions 112 and 114. After the knife edge 108has cuttingly severed the desired portion of the first and the secondsheets of material 92 a and 94 a from the roll of material 90 a, theactuator 110 is actuated to move the knife edge 108 in the direction 114to a storage position disposed a distance above the first and the secondmaterials 92 a and 94 a as opposed to the cutting position previouslydescribed.

Embodiment of FIG. 13

[0081] Shown in FIG. 13 is a pad 116 of first sheets of materialsdesignated by the reference numerals 10 f, 10 g, and 10 h and aplurality of second sheets of material, designated by the referencenumerals 26 f, 26 g and 26 h. The first sheets of material 10 f, 10 gand 10 h may be constructed like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG.1 and described in detail before and the second sheets of material 26 f,26 g and 26 h may be constructed like the second sheet of material 26shown in FIG. 2 and described in detail before, or like any of the otherfirst and the second sheets of material described herein. The first andthe second sheets of material 10 f, 10 g, 10 h, 26 f, 26 g and 26 h areconnected in the form of a pad 116 with the closure bonding material 24f, 24 g and 24 h cooperating to connect the first sheets of material 10f, 10 g and 10 h in the form of the pad 116. The second sheets ofmaterial 26 f, 26 g and 26 h may be connected to the respective firstsheets of material 10 f, 10 g and 10 h or may be interleaved between theadjacent first sheets of material 10 f, 10 g and 10 h in the pad 116. Inthe alternative, the second sheets of material 26 f, 26 g and 26 h maybe connected to form the pad 116 with the first sheets of material 10 f,10 g and 10 h being interleaved in the respective second sheets ofmaterial 26 f, 26 g and 26 h and/or connected thereto (not shown). Inoperation, one of the first sheets of material 10 f, 10 g or 10 h alongwith the adjacent second sheet of material 26 f, 26 g and 26 h may beremoved from the pad 116 and then placed in position to be wrapped aboutthe flower pot.

Embodiments of FIGS. 14-16

[0082] As noted above, the sheet of material 10 or the first sheet 10and the second sheet of material 26 may be used to provide a decorativecover for an object such as a flower pot or a potted plant. To cover theobject, the sheet of material 10 or the first and second sheets ofmaterial 10 and 26 may be manually or automatically placed in a positionto be formed about an outer peripheral surface of a pot or potted plantas described in more detail below. Alternatively, the sheet of material10 or the first and second sheets of material 10 and 26 may be formedinto a preformed cover which is then placed in a position to receive thepot or potted plant using the present invention.

[0083] Referring now to FIG. 14, as shown therein and designated by thegeneral reference numeral 10 j is another sheet of material constructedin accordance with the present invention. The sheet of material 10 j hasan upper surface 12 j, a lower surface (not shown), a first end 16 j, asecond end 18 j, a first side 20 j and a second side 22 j. The first andsecond ends 16 j and 18 j cooperate with the first and second sides 20 jand 22 j to define an outer peripheral edge 24 j of the sheet ofmaterial 10 j. The outer peripheral edge 24 j of the sheet of material10 j is defined by perforations 26 j, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 14, a sheet extension 28 j is connected to theouter peripheral edge 24 j of the sheet of material 10 j. The sheetextension 28 j extends a distance outwardly from the outer peripheraledge 24 j of the sheet of material 10 j. The sheet extension 28 j has afirst end 30 j, a second end 32 j, a first side 34 j and a second side36 j. A portion of the sheet extension 28 j extends a distance outwardlyfrom the first end 16 j of the sheet of material 10 j terminating withthe first end 30 j of the sheet extension 28 j. Another portion of thesheet extension 28 j extends a distance outwardly from the second end 18j of the sheet of material 10 j terminating with the second end 32 j ofthe sheet extension 28 j. Yet another portion of the sheet extension 28j extends a distance outwardly from the first side 20 j of the sheet ofmaterial 10 j terminating with the first side 34 j of the sheetextension 28 j. Still another portion of the sheet extension 28 jextends a distance outwardly from the second side 22 j of the sheet ofmaterial 10 j terminating with the second side 36 j of the sheetextension 28 j.

[0085] The sheet extension 28 j cooperates with the sheet of material 10j to define a generally square or rectangularly shaped sheet with theperforations 26 j being disposed in a central portion of the sheet anddefining the outer peripheral edge 24 j of the sheet of material 10 j.Preferably, the sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j areunitary and formed from a single sheet or plies or multiple sheets oneon top of the other which may or may not be laminated.

[0086] The sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j areconstructed from any suitable flexible material that is capable of beingwrapped about a flower pot and formed into the covering, as describedherein. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension28 j are constructed of a material selected from a group of materialsconsisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim,burlap or polymeric film as defined above or combinations thereof.

[0087] The sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j have athickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Preferably,the sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j have a thicknessin a range from about 0.1 mil to about 5 mils.

[0088] The sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j may beany shape and a rectangular shape is shown in FIG. 14 only by way ofexample. The sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j, forexample only, may be square, rectangular, circular or any othergeometric shape such as heart shaped for example only.

[0089] The sheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j may beconstructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers ofthe same or different types of materials. Any thickness of the sheet ofmaterial 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j may be utilized in accordancewith the present invention as long as the sheet of material 10 j and thesheet extension 28 j are wrappable about a flower pot and formable intothe covering, as described herein. The layers of material comprising thesheet of material 10 j and the sheet extension 28 j may be connectedtogether or laminated or may be separate layers.

[0090] The sheet extension 28 j is transparent, although a decorativepattern also may be applied to the sheet extension 28 j.

[0091] The sheet extension 28 j preferably includes a bonding material72 j (FIG. 14) disposed on the upper surface 29 j of the sheet extension28 j and extending about the outer peripheral edge 31; of the sheetextension 28 j. After the sheet extension 28 j has been formed about thefloral grouping, the first and second ends 30 j and 32 j and the firstand second sides 34 j and 36 j of the sheet extension 28 j may be bondedtogether to provide a closed end. The term “bonding material” as usedherein is as defined below.

[0092] The sheet extension 28 j remains in a position extending aboutthe floral grouping until it is desired to remove the sheet extension 28j. The sheet extension 28 j is removed from a pot cover formed from thesheet of material 10 j by tearing along the perforations 26 j separatingthe sheet extension 28 j from the pot cover formed from the sheet ofmaterial 10 j. The sheet extension 28 j then is removed from the floralgrouping (not shown) leaving a decorative cover for the pot (also notshown).

[0093] In addition to the perforations 26 j, the sheet extension 28 jalso may include perforations extending between the perforations 26 jand the outer peripheral edge 31 j of the sheet extension 28 j tofurther assist in the removal of the sheet extension 28 j when it is nolonger desired to keep the sheet extension 28 j extending about thefloral grouping.

[0094] Shown in FIG. 15 and designated by the general reference number10 k is a sheet of material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. The sheet of material 10 k includes an upper surface 20 k anda lower surface 22 k (not shown).

[0095] A connecting bonding material 24 k is disposed on the uppersurface 20 k of the sheet of material 10 k. The sheet of material 10 khas an outer peripheral edge 26 k. The connecting bonding material 24 kis disposed near and spaced a distance 28 k from the outer peripheraledge 26 k of the sheet of material 10 k and extends generallycircumferentially about the sheet of material 10 k.

[0096] The sheet of material 10 k shown in FIG. 15 is circularly shapedand the connecting bonding material 24 k extends in a circularly shapedpattern over the upper surface 20 k of the sheet of material 10 k. Thesheet of material 10 k may be any geometric shape such as square orrectangular or heart shaped or trapezoidally shaped or any othergeometric shape. Further, the connecting bonding material 24 k mayextend in any geometric pattern over the upper surface 20 k of the sheetof material 10 k, and the circularly shaped pattern is shown in FIG. 15only by way of example.

[0097] A sheet extension 25 k is connected to the sheet of material 10k. The sheet extension 25 k extends about the outer peripheral edge 26 kof the sheet of material 10 k. The sheet extension 25 k extendsoutwardly from the sheet of material 10 k terminating with an outerperipheral edge 27 k. The sheet extension 25 k has an upper surface 29 k(FIG. 15) and a lower surface (not shown). The upper surface 29 k isdisposed in a plane about coplanar with the upper surface 20 k of thesheet of material 10 k and lower surface (not shown) is disposed in aplane about coplanar with the lower surface (not shown) of the sheet ofmaterial 10 k.

[0098] The sheet extension 25 k and the sheet of material 10 k may beintegrally constructed of a single sheet of material or the sheetextension 25 k may be laminated to the sheet of material 10 k. Aconnecting bonding material 33 k is disposed on the upper surface 29 kof the sheet extension 25 k. The connecting bonding material 33 k isdisposed near and spaced a distance from the outer peripheral edge 31 kof the sheet extension 25 k and extends generally circumferentiallyabout the sheet extension 25 k.

[0099] The sheet extension 25 k is shown in FIG. 15 as being circularlyshaped. The sheet extension 25 k may be any geometric shape such as asquare or rectangular or heart shaped or trapezoidally shaped or anyother geometric shape and the geometric shape of the sheet extension 25k may be the same as the geometric shape of the sheet of material 10 kor the sheet extension 25 k may have a geometric shape different fromthe geometric shape of the sheet of material 10 k. Further, although thesheet extension 25 k is shown in FIG. 15 as extending circumferentiallyabout the outer peripheral edge 26 k of the sheet of material 10 k, thesheet extension 25 k may extend only about a portion of the outerperipheral edge 26 k of the sheet of material 10 k or the sheetextension 25 k may comprise segments with each segment extending about aportion of the outer peripheral edge 26 k of the sheet of material 10 k.

[0100] The sheet of material 10 k and the sheet extension 25 k may beconstructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers ofthe same or different types of materials as described above. Anythickness of the sheet of material 10 k and the sheet extension 25 k maybe utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as thesheet of material 10 k and the sheet extension 25 k are wrappable orformable about a flower pot or a floral grouping in the mannersdescribed herein. The layers of material comprising the sheet ofmaterial 10 k and the sheet extension 25 k may be connected together orlaminated or may be separate layers. A decorative pattern, such as acolor and/or an embossed pattern, and/or other decorative surfaceornamentation may be applied to the upper surface 20 k and/or the lowersurface (not shown) of the sheet of material 10 k or portions thereof asdescribed above.

[0101] A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern,and/or other decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to theupper surface 29 k and/or the lower surface (not shown) of the sheetextension 25 k or portions thereof as described above. The sheetextension 25 k also may be totally or partially clear or tintedtransparent material as described above.

[0102] The connecting bonding materials 24 k and 33 k are shown in FIG.15 as being applied to the upper surface 20 k of the sheet of material10 k and the upper surface 29 k of the sheet extension 25 k in the formof circularly shaped strips. The connecting bonding materials 24 k or 33k may be applied in the form of spots or spaced apart strips and thespots may be any geometric pattern or any other type of pattern such asa logo for example. Further, the connecting bonding materials 24 k or 33k may include a color to obscure the fact that the connecting bondingmaterials 24 k and 33 k are disposed on the sheet of material 10 k andthe sheet extension 25 k.

[0103] In a preferred form, a line of perforations 53 k (FIG. 15) isformed between the sheet of material 10 k and the sheet extension 25 k.The line of perforations 53 k extends generally about the outerperipheral edge 26 k of the sheet of material 10 k. The sheet extension25 k encompasses a floral grouping and provides a protective coveringfor the floral grouping to protect the floral grouping during shipmentand/or storage. When it is desired to remove the protective coveringprovided by the sheet extension 25 k, the operator tears the sheetextension 25 k along the line of perforations 53 k thereby severing orseparating the sheet extension 25 k from the sheet of material 10 k sothat the sheet extension 25 k can be removed from the sheet of material10 k or, in other words, the protective covering may be removed from thedecorative covering by tearing along the line of perforations 53 k.

[0104] The sheet of material 10 j or 10 k may be preformed into a cover120 having an opening 122 as shown in FIG. 16. The cover 120 isself-supporting by virtue of overlapping folds which are bonded to eachother, thereby forming a rigid structure. The preformed cover 120 may bedeposited into an opening in a table or platform to support the cover120. A potted plant can then be disposed into the opening 122 of thepreformed cover 120, thereby resulting in a covered potted plant (notshown).

[0105] One method for forming such a preformed plant cover or pot coveris shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182 entitled “Article Forming System”issued to Weder et al., on Sep. 27, 1988, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

[0106] The term “bonding material” when used herein means an adhesive,preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where thebonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must beplaced on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondinglyengaging with the cohesive material. The term “bonding material” alsoincludes materials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, theadjacent portions of the material must be brought into contact and thenheat must be applied to effect the seal. The term “bonding material”also includes materials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable.The term “bonding material” when used herein also means a heat sealinglacquer which may be applied to the sheet of material and, in thisinstance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied toeffect the sealing.

[0107] The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any typeof material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding orconnecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet ofmaterial to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term“bonding material” also includes ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings,tape, staples or combinations thereof. Some of the bonding materialswould secure the ends of the material while other bonding material maybind the circumference of the wrapper. Another way to secure thewrapping is to heat seal the ends of the material to another portion ofthe material. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron ofsufficient heat to heat seal the material.

[0108] The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination.The term “botanical item” also means any portion or portions of naturalor artificial herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves,flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or incombination, or in groupings of such portions such as bouquet or floralgrouping.

[0109] The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capableof being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction includingseeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.

[0110] The term “growing medium” when used herein means any liquid,solid or gaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivationof propagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients,fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plantsor propagules for growth.

[0111] The term “band” when used herein means any material which may besecured about an object such as a flower pot, such bands commonly beingreferred to as elastic bands or rubber bands and also includes any othertype of material such as a string or elastic piece of material,non-elastic piece of material, a round piece of material, a flat pieceof material, a ribbon, a piece of paper strip, a piece of plastic strip,a piece of wire, a tie wrap or a twist tie or combinations thereof orany other device capable of gathering the sheet of material to removablyor substantially permanently form a crimped portion and secure thecrimped portion formed in the sheet of material which may be securedabout an object such as the flower pot. The band also may include a bowif desired in a particular application.

[0112] The sheets of material used herein, such as the sheets ofmaterial 10, may further comprise at least one scent. Examples of scentsutilized herein include (but are not limited to) floral scents (flowerblossoms, or any portion of a plant), food scents (chocolate, sugar,fruits), herb or spice scents (cinnamon), and the like. Additionalexamples of scents include flowers (such as roses, daisies, lilacs),plants (such as fruits, vegetables, grasses, trees), foods (for example,candies, cookies, cake), food condiments (such as honey, sugar, salt),herbs, spices, woods, roots, and the like, or any combination of theforegoing. Such scents are known in the art, and are commerciallyavailable.

[0113] The scent may be disposed upon the sheet of material 10 byspraying the scent thereupon, painting the scent thereupon, brushing thescent thereupon, lacquering the scent thereupon, immersing the sheet ofmaterial in a scent-containing liquid, exposing the sheet of material toscent-containing gas, or any combination thereof.

[0114] The scent may be contained within a lacquer, or other liquid,before it is disposed upon the sheet of material 10. The scent may alsobe contained within a dye, ink, and/or pigment (not shown). Such dyes,inks and pigments are known in the art, and are commercially available,and may be disposed upon or incorporated in the sheet of material 10 byany method described herein or known in the art.

Embodiments of FIGS. 17-19B

[0115] Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, a cover forming and fasteningapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention isgenerally referred to by the reference numeral 126. The cover formingand fastening apparatus 126 comprises a platform 130 having an uppersupport surface 132 which has a first end 134, a second end 136, a firstside 138, and a second side 140. The platform 130 has a platform opening142, as shown in FIG. 18, for accommodating a conveyable cover formingassembly or mold 146. The platform 130 has a plurality of vacuum ports144 for releasably securing a sheet of material during operation. Theconveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146 has an outer peripheralsurface 148, a lower end 150 and an opening 152; and the conveyablecover forming assembly or mold 146 is disposed generally within theplatform opening 142 and adapted to receive a potted plant duringoperation.

[0116] The cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 further comprises aconveying assembly, such as a rail 154 having a first end 156 and asecond end 158 and a groove 160 disposed longitudinally therein fromnear first end 156 to near the second end 158. On the lower end 150 ofthe conveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146 is located an adaptor162. The adaptor 162 fits within the groove 160 of the rail 154.

[0117] The cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 further comprises adrive assembly 164 which functions to cause the conveyable cover formingassembly,or mold 146 to be driven from one end of the rail 154 to theother in the direction 166 from the first end 156 to the second end 158during operation of the cover forming and fastening apparatus 126.Located generally in the vicinity of the second end 158 of the rail 154is a fastener applicating assembly, such as a tying machine 170 of atype commercially available and well known to those of ordinary skill inthe art. Examples of fastening machines include tying machines such asthose commercially available from Saxmeyer, Bunn, Felins, and Cyclops.

[0118] The tying machine 170 has a tying arm 172, a knotter head 174,and a spool 176. The spool 176 supplies a fastening element 178, such asa string, to the tying arm 172, the opposite end of the fasteningelement 178 being attached to the knotter head 174. The tying machine170 has a tying area 180 to which the conveyable cover forming assemblyor mold 146 is conveyed along the rail 154 by the drive assembly 164during operation.

[0119] One version of the conveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146is shown in greater detail in FIG. 19A. The conveyable cover formingassembly or mold 146 has an outer peripheral surface 148, a lower end150, an opening 152 and the adaptor 162 as described above. An alternateversion of a conveyable cover forming assembly or mold is shown in FIG.19B and is generally designated by the reference numeral 146 a. Theconveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146 a is comprised generallyof a plurality of fingers 147 attached to a lower end 150 a of theconveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146 a and thereby forming anopening 152 a sized to receive a pot. Attached to the lower end 150 a isan adaptor 162 a which engages the rail 154.

Embodiment of FIGS. 20-21

[0120] Referring now to FIGS. 20 and 21, an alternate version of a coverforming and fastening apparatus is represented generally by thereference numeral 126 a. The cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 ais exactly the same as the cover forming and fastening apparatus 126described above except that in addition it has a platform extension 188for supplying a roll of material 190 which in turn supplies sheets ofmaterial to be used during operation of the cover forming and fasteningapparatus 126 a. The roll of material 190, which is similar to rolls 80or 90 described in FIGS. 9-12 above, is mounted upon a support shaft192. A portion of material 194 withdrawn from the roll of material 190is fed through rollers 196 and 198. Roller 196 moves in direction 200while roller 198 moves in direction 202 thereby causing the portion ofmaterial 194 to be advanced through the roller 196 and 198 in direction204 over the platform extension 188.

[0121] As described earlier in greater detail in FIG. 17, the portion ofmaterial 194 is advanced a predetermined distance on the upper surface132 of the platform 130. Once the portion of material 194 has beenadvanced a predetermined distance on the platform extension 188, a knife208 is actuated by an actuator 210 to sever the portion of material 194from the roll of material 190 thereby providing a sheet of materialsized for use by the cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 a.

Embodiments of FIGS. 22A-22D

[0122] Referring now to FIGS. 22A-22D, the operation of the coverforming and fastening apparatus 126 will be described. However, it is tobe understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the cover formingand fastening apparatus 126 a works in substantially the same manner aswell as other modified version of the cover forming and fasteningapparatus 126 described herein.

[0123] In operation, a sheet of material 214 which may be exactly thesame as or similar to any of the sheets described in FIGS. 1-15 may beplaced on the upper support surface 132 of the platform 130 as shown inFIG. 22A. A potted plant 215 comprising a plant and a pot is positionedgenerally over the sheet of material 214 and above the opening 152 ofthe conveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146. The pot of the pottedplant has an upper end 216. The sheet 214 may be supplied to the uppersupport surface 132 either manually or automatically. The potted plant215 is passed in a direction 217 into the interior of the conveyablecover forming assembly or mold 146 thereby forming a covered pottedplant 218 as shown in FIG. 22B. The conveyable cover forming assembly ormold 146 containing the covered potted plant 218 is conveyed in adirection 166 by the drive assembly 164 along the rail 154 to thefastening machine 170 (also referred to herein as a tying machine) asshown in FIG. 22B. The covered potted plant 218 in the mold 146 isarrested at a fastening position 180 of the fastening machine 170 asshown in FIG. 22C. Once in the fastening position 180 a tie or fastener222 is disposed about the exterior peripheral surface of the coveredpotted plant 218 as shown in FIG. 22D.

[0124] The tie or fastener 222 may be applied with or without a bow orin any manner feasible by the fastening machine 170.

[0125] The covered potted plant 218 having the tie or fastener 222disposed thereabout is then removed from the conveyable cover formingassembly or mold 146 by lifting the covered potted plant in direction224. Once the covered potted plant 218 has been removed from theconveyable cover forming assembly or mold 146, the conveyable coverforming assembly or mold 146 is returned in direction 226 via the rail154 to the vicinity of the cover forming platform 132 by the driveassembly 164 as shown in FIG. 22D. Alternatively, the conveyable coverforming assembly or mold 146 may be returned via the rail 154 to thevicinity of the platform 132 before the covered potted plant 218 hasbeen removed.

[0126] In another version of the invention, the cover forming andfastening apparatus 126 may further comprise a labeling apparatus (notshown) for automatically applying a label to a portion of the outersurface of the cover of the covered potted plant 218. Such labelingmachines are commercially available and are known to those of ordinaryskill in the art. The sheet of material as described in more detailabove, which is used in accordance with the present invention, isconstructed from material selected from a group of materials consistingof paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap orpolymeric film or combinations thereof.

[0127] The cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 may furthercomprise a pick and place assembly (not shown) for picking up thearticle from an article supply and for placing the article into theplatform opening 142 in the platform 130 to form the covered article.Additionally, the cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 may furthercomprise a removal assembly for automatically removing a covered articlefrom the platform 130. The cover forming and fastening apparatus 126 maybe located on an axis off a 90° angle and may be portable or stationary.Such pick and place machines and removal assemblies are known to thoseof ordinary skill in the art and are commercially available.

[0128] As noted earlier, the cover forming and fastening apparatus 126can use precut sheets which are fed manually or automatically with adispenser which feeds a sized sheet from a roll to the proper workingposition on the platform 130. Automatic sheet feeding devices are wellknown in the art. Examples of such sheet feeding machines are shown inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,887,805 issued to Herbert et al., 4,889,331 issued toSardella, and 5,090,676 issued to Matsumo et al. An automatic sheetfeeding machine may be detachably connected to the framework of thecover forming and fastening apparatus 126 of the present invention.

Embodiments of FIGS. 23-24

[0129] Shown in FIGS. 22A-22D is a covered potted plant 218 in which thetie or fastener 222 is applied at a position below the upper end 216 ofthe potted plant 215. Alternatively, as indicated in FIGS. 23 and 24, atie or fastener 222 a may be applied at a position above the upper end216 of the pot of the potted plant 215. Designated by the generalreference numeral 218 a is a covered potted plant in which the tie orfastener 222 a is applied at a position above the upper end 216 of thepot of the potted plant 215.

[0130] Shown in FIG. 24, alternatively, is a covered potted plant 218 bin which the potted plant 215 is covered by a sheet of material 228having a sleeve 230 which forms a sheet extension and which can beclosed at a position 232 above the potted plant 215. The sleeve 230 maybe detachable from the sheet 228 via a perforation zone 234.

[0131] Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of thevarious components, elements and assemblies described herein or in thesteps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described hereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced according to the process comprising the steps of: providingcover forming means in a cover forming position, the cover forming meanshaving contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive an article;disposing a sheet of material in a position adjacent the cover formingmeans; providing the article; moving the article into the cover formingmeans wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the article to formthe cover about the article; providing a fastener applicating means;conveying the cover forming means and the article therein from a coverforming position to a fastening position adjacent the fastenerapplicating means; automatically applying a fastener about a portion ofthe cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; andremoving the article with the cover fastened thereabout.
 2. The articlehaving a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process ofclaim 1, wherein in the step of placing the sheet of material, the sheetof material is selected from the group consisting of paper, metal foil,cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap, polymer film andcombinations thereof.
 3. The article having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced according to the process of claim 1, wherein the step ofplacing a sheet of material on the support surface is performedautomatically.
 4. The article having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced according to the process of claim 1, wherein in the step ofproviding the article, the article is further defined as a potcontaining a botanical item therein.
 5. The article having a coverfastened thereabout produced according to the process of claim 1,wherein the step of moving the article is performed automatically byusing an automatic pick and place means to pick up an article and placeit into the cover forming means to form a covered article.
 6. Thearticle having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to theprocess of claim 1, wherein in the step of automatically applying afastener, the fastener is selected from the group consisting of elasticor non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.
 7. Thearticle having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to theprocess of claim 1, wherein the fastener applicating means is a tyingdevice.
 8. The article having a cover fastened thereabout producedaccording to the process of claim 1, wherein the step of removing thecovered article is preceded by returning the cover forming means to thecover forming position.
 9. The article having a cover fastenedthereabout produced according to the process of claim 4, wherein the potis further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fasteneris applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which extends abovethe upper end of the pot.
 10. The article having a cover fastenedthereabout produced according to the process of claim 4, wherein the potis further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fasteneris applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which is disposedbelow the upper end of the pot.
 11. A pot having a cover fastenedthereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of:providing cover forming means conveyable in a cover forming position,the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shapedto receive a pot; disposing a sheet of material in a position adjacentthe cover forming means; providing the pot, the pot having an innersurface and an outer surface; moving the pot into the cover formingmeans wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the outer surfaceof the pot to form a cover about the pot; providing a fastenerapplicating means; conveying the cover forming means and the pot thereinfrom a cover forming position to a fastening position adjacent thefastener applicating means; automatically applying a fastener about aportion of the cover on the outer surface of the pot for fastening thecover about the pot; and engaging an automatic labeling means andautomatically applying a label to a portion of the cover of the pot. 12.A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to theprocess comprising the steps of: providing cover forming means in acover forming position, the cover forming means having contactingportions and sized and shaped to receive a pot; disposing a sheet ofmaterial in a position adjacent the cover forming means; providing thepot, the pot having an inner surface and an outer surface; moving thepot into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material ispressed about the outer surface of the pot to form a cover about thepot; providing a fastener applicating means; conveying the cover formingmeans and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fasteningposition adjacent the fastener applicating means; automatically applyinga fastener about a portion of the cover on the outer surface of the potfor fastening the cover about the pot; and removing the pot with thecover fastened thereabout.
 13. The pot having a cover fastenedthereabout produced according to the process of claim 12, wherein in thestep of placing the sheet of material, the sheet of material is selectedfrom the group consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural orsynthetic), denim, burlap, polymer film and combinations thereof. 14.The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to theprocess of claim 12, wherein the step of placing a sheet of material onthe support surface is performed automatically.
 15. The pot having acover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of claim 12,wherein the pot is further defined as a flower pot having a botanicalitem disposed therein.
 16. The pot having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced according to the process of claim 12, wherein the step ofmoving the pot is performed automatically by using an automatic pick andplace means to pick up a pot and place it into the cover forming meansto form a covered pot.
 17. The pot having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced according to the process of claim 12, wherein in the step ofautomatically applying a fastener, the fastener is selected from thegroup consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands,ribbon, wire and tape.
 18. The pot having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced according to the process of claim 12, wherein the fastenerapplicating means is a tying device.
 19. The pot having a cover fastenedthereabout produced according to the process of claim 12, wherein thestep of removing the covered pot is preceded by returning the coverforming means to the cover forming position.
 20. The pot having a coverfastened thereabout produced according to the process of claim 12,wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end andwherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the potwhich extends above the upper end of the pot.
 21. The pot having a coverfastened thereabout produced according to the process of claim 12,wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end andwherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the potwhich is disposed below the upper end of the pot.
 22. An article havinga cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing thearticle, the apparatus comprising: cover forming means having contactingportions and sized and shaped to receive an article and further adaptedsuch that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming meansis formed into a cover about the article when the article is moved intothe cover forming means; rail means for conveying the cover formingmeans and the article therein from a cover forming position to afastener applicating position; fastener applicating means forautomatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of thearticle for fastening the cover about the article; and drive means forconveying the cover forming means via the rail means to the fastenerapplicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and forreturning the cover forming means via the rail means to the coverforming position.
 23. An article having a cover fastened thereaboutproduced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatuscomprising: cover forming means having contacting portions and sized andshaped to receive an article and further adapted such that a sheet ofmaterial disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into acover about the article when the article is moved in a direction whichcauses the article to engage a portion of the sheet of material, thearticle and portions of the sheet of material passing into the coverforming means causing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contactboth the article and the contacting portions of the cover forming meansas the article is moved wherein the sheet of material is pressed aboutthe article to form the cover about the article; conveying means forconveying the cover forming means and the article therein from a coverforming position to a fastener applicating position; fastenerapplicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portionof the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article;and drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveyingmeans to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastenerapplicating means and for returning the cover forming means via theconveying means to the cover forming position.
 24. The article having acover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 23, whereinthe sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of paper,metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap, polymer filmand combinations thereof.
 25. The article having a cover fastenedthereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 23, wherein the article isfurther characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener isapplied about a portion of the cover of the article which extends abovethe upper end of the article.
 26. The article having a cover fastenedthereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises a sheet support surface and means for automaticallyplacing the sheet of material on the support surface.
 27. The articlehaving a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim23, wherein the cover forming means is adapted to receive a flower pot.28. The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by theapparatus of claim 23, wherein the article is further characterized ashaving an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portionof the cover of the article which is disposed below the upper end of thearticle.
 29. The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced bythe apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus further comprises meansfor automatically picking and placing the article for picking up thearticle from an article supply and placing the article into the coverforming means to form a covered article.
 30. The article having a coverfastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 23, wherein thefastener applied by the fastener applicating means is selected from thegroup consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands,ribbon, wire and tape.
 31. The article having a cover fastenedthereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 23 wherein the apparatusfurther comprises automatic removal means for automatically removing thearticle having a cover fastened thereabout.
 32. An article having acover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing thearticle, the apparatus comprising: cover forming means having contactingportions and sized and shaped to receive an article and further adaptedsuch that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming meansis formed into a cover about the article when the article is moved intothe cover forming means; conveying means for conveying the cover formingmeans and the article therein from a cover forming position to afastener applicating position; fastener applicating means forautomatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of thearticle for fastening the cover about the article; labeling means forautomatically applying a label to a portion of the cover formed aboutthe article; and drive means for conveying the cover forming means viathe conveying means to the fastener applicating position adjacent thefastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means viathe conveying means to the cover forming position.
 33. A pot having acover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for fastening a sheetof material about the pot, the apparatus comprising: cover forming meanshaving contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot andfurther adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent thecover forming means is formed into a cover about the pot when the pot ismoved into the cover forming means; rail means for conveying the coverforming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position to afastener applicating position; fastener applicating means forautomatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of thepot for fastening the cover about the pot; and drive means for conveyingthe cover forming means via the rail means to the fastener applicatingposition adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning thecover forming means via the rail means to the cover forming position.34. A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatusfor fastening a sheet of material about the pot, the apparatuscomprising: cover forming means having contacting portions and sized andshaped to receive a pot and further adapted such that a sheet ofmaterial disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into acover about the pot when the pot is moved in a direction which causesthe pot to engage a portion of the sheet of material, the pot andportions of the sheet of material passing into the cover forming meanscausing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contact both the potand the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the pot ismoved wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the pot to form thecover about the pot; conveying means for conveying the cover formingmeans and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fastenerapplicating position; fastener applicating means for automaticallyapplying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot forfastening the cover about the pot; and drive means for conveying thecover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicatingposition adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning thecover forming means via the conveying means to the cover formingposition.
 35. The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by theapparatus of claim 34, wherein the sheet of material is selected fromthe group consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic),denim, burlap, polymer film and combinations thereof.
 36. The pot havinga cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 34,wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end andwherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the potwhich extends above the upper end of the pot.
 37. The pot having a coverfastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 34, wherein theapparatus further comprises a sheet support surface and means forautomatically placing the sheet of material on the support surface. 38.The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upperend and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover ofthe pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.
 39. The pothaving a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim34, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automaticallypicking and placing the pot for picking up the pot from a pot supply andplacing the pot into the cover forming means to form a covered pot. 40.The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the fastener applied by the fastener applicating meansis selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string,thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.
 41. The pot having a coverfastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of claim 34, wherein theapparatus further comprises removal means for automatically removing thepot having a cover fastened thereabout.
 42. A pot having a coverfastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for fastening a sheet ofmaterial about the pot, the apparatus comprising: cover forming meanshaving contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot andfurther adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent thecover forming means is formed into a cover about the pot when the pot ismoved into the cover forming means; conveying means for conveying thecover forming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position toa fastener applicating position; fastener applicating means forautomatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of thepot for fastening the cover about the pot; labeling means forautomatically applying a label to a portion of the cover formed aboutthe pot; and drive means for conveying the cover forming means via theconveying means to the fastener applicating position adjacent thefastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means viathe conveying means to the cover forming position.
 43. An article havinga cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprisingthe steps of: providing cover forming means in a cover forming position,the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shapedto receive an article; disposing a sheet of material in a positionadjacent the cover forming means; providing the article; moving thearticle into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material ispressed about the article to form a cover about the article; providing afastener applicating means; conveying the cover forming means from acover forming position to a fastening position adjacent the fastenerapplicating means; automatically applying a fastener about a portion ofthe cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; andengaging an automatic labeling means and automatically applying a labelto a portion of the cover formed about the article.